Metro 2039 Revealed: The Post-Apocalyptic Series Returns
After seven years and countless leaks, 4A Games has finally unveiled Metro 2039 at Xbox's new First Look showcase. Here's everything we know so far.
After seven long years and a handful of teased leaks, 4A Games has finally pulled back the curtain on Metro 2039 — the fourth mainline entry in one of gaming's most beloved post-apocalyptic franchises. The reveal landed today during Xbox First Look: Metro 2039, a YouTube Premiere on the Xbox channel that marked the debut of Xbox's brand-new showcase format.
If you've been waiting since Metro Exodus back in 2019, your wait is officially over. And from what we've seen so far, it looks like 4A Games hasn't been sitting still.
What Is Metro 2039?
The game is set four years after the events of Metro Exodus, continuing the story of survival in a world devastated by nuclear war. If you've played Exodus, you'll remember how that game dramatically expanded the Metro universe beyond the tunnels of Moscow. Metro 2039 appears to push that even further.
4A Games is once again at the helm, with Deep Silver publishing. What's new this time around is a reported co-development partnership with Saber Interactive — the studio behind the Switch port of The Witcher 3 and the developer of World War Z. That partnership has fueled speculation about multiplayer elements coming to the series for the first time, though 4A hasn't confirmed specifics yet.
The New Xbox First Look Format
Metro 2039 wasn't just a game reveal — it was a statement about how Xbox plans to handle big announcements going forward. The "First Look" format is designed to spotlight individual games throughout the year rather than lumping everything into one massive showcase event.
Think of it as the end of the old E3-style "here's everything we have, all at once" approach. Instead, Xbox will give major titles their own dedicated moments — a focused deep dive, no noise from competing announcements. Metro 2039 is the first game to get this treatment.
It's a smart move. Rather than getting lost in a sea of trailers at a summer showcase, a game like Metro gets the spotlight all to itself. Fans are actually watching because they want to, not scrolling through 40 reveals hoping for the one thing they care about.
A Series That Deserves More Attention
Let's be honest — the Metro series has always been criminally underrated. Metro 2033 launched in 2010 as a raw, atmospheric shooter adapted from Dmitry Glukhovsky's novel. Metro: Last Light refined everything in 2013. Metro Exodus in 2019 was genuinely one of the best open-world shooters of its generation — a gorgeous, emotionally resonant game that plenty of people still slept on.
The series has always excelled at environmental storytelling. The tunnels of the Moscow Metro feel lived-in and real. Every corner has a survivor's diary, a child's drawing, a makeshift shrine. The surface sections are terrifying in a way that feels earned, not manufactured.
Seven years is a long time to wait for more of that. But it also means 4A has had serious time to build on what Exodus started.
What We Want to See
The multiplayer angle is interesting, but it needs to be handled carefully. Metro's strength has always been its single-player atmosphere — the tension of being alone in a hostile world. Bolting on a co-op mode could enrich that or completely undermine it, depending on execution.
Here's what the fanbase is hoping for:
- A continuation of Artyom's story — or a new protagonist who earns their place
- Expanded world-building beyond the former Soviet Union
- The return of the moral choice system from the earlier games
- PC-first optimization — Metro Exodus was a technical showcase and we want more of that
Release Window and Platforms
No release date has been confirmed yet, but given that Xbox is spotlighting Metro 2039 as its inaugural First Look title, a 2027 window seems most likely — though a late 2026 surprise is possible if development is further along than expected.
Platforms are expected to include Xbox Series X/S and PC as day-one releases, with PlayStation likely following. Deep Silver has historically shipped Metro games on all major platforms, so PS5 owners shouldn't lose any sleep.
The Bottom Line
Metro 2039 is officially real, and that alone is worth celebrating. The Metro series is one of the best franchises in gaming that still doesn't get the mainstream recognition it deserves. If this reveal generates the buzz Xbox is hoping for with its new First Look format, maybe that finally changes.
We'll be covering every update as they drop. In the meantime, if you haven't played Metro Exodus — go fix that right now. It's on Game Pass.